When I was a boy I loved Christmas and Christmas trees as others do. At that time I believed that the tree came from Jesus. But in reality it came from our parent’s love. There were gifts and all kinds of goodies under the tree.

Later when I became a believer I did not like Christmas trees very much, since I found in the Bible that pagan have the same traditions. They also cut the trees in the forest and decorate it with all kinds of silver and gold… Therefore Christmas trees have a pagan origin.

Jeremiah 10:3-5 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the ax. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.

Our children always loved the Christmas. Today I do not mind celebrating Christmas since I realized we do not worship to the tree – we celebrate the gift of Jesus.

There are lessons one might learn from the Christmas tree.

The Bible says: Jesus is the wine and we are the branches. We bear fruit. Jesus does not bear the fruit for us but we do. Every branch which does not bring forth fruit, is cut off and burned. The Bible does not mean we are bearing only some fruit. We have to bear all fruits, not just some fruits. The fruit that is depends upon what kind of the tree it is. A tree brings fruit by its own kind. We know that neither apple trees does not product bananas, nor pears trees prunes. Apple trees bears apples and pear tree bars pears. Just like those trees, we bring a spiritual fruit also according to our kind. If we are born of God, born of His Word, then we have (bear) the fruit of the spirit. I am talking about the our human spirit, born of God spirit, not the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit does not bear fruit, we have to. God the Father, Jesus or the Holy Spirit will not do for us what we are supposed to do. He will not love for us, we have to love people. The Holy Spirit will not believe for us, we are supposed to do. Nobody will do anything for us, we have to have active faith. Otherwise nothing will work. God is not a socialist and will not do what we are supposed to do. He even did not send angels to preach the gospel - the good news. We were sent to do this task.

Some churches are dead. Sometimes they look like they are alive, but they are not. Some have nice and have active outward appearances. They perform good works and show efficiency. But they are caught in many things which are in contrary to God’s Word. You cannot be born of God and act opposite to His Word. God and His Word are one. He invested everything into His Word. Jesus is the Word in flesh (John 1:1). Everything is tested by His Word. His Word sets you free, because His Word is the Truth.

Many are caught by the traditions made by men. They present ceremonies and habits. They look very religious, but they are dead. Without being born to new life and without their names are not written in the Book of Life, they do not have a chance to enter the kingdom of God.

No matter how we decorate the Christmas tree this it is still a dead tree. In time, it dries up, the needles will fall off and we have to dispose of it. Many churches and many Christians are like a Christmas tree. They have wonderful decorations, ceremonies, superficiality, but they are dead. Many people like decorations without the substance. If a Christmas tree does not have life by itself, it does not bear any fruit. It has only what we put on to make it look alive. It does not have the seed either to multiply.

The same is with the works. Many think that work is an important part of Christian life. And it is. But work is only result what we are. Work will never bring us to salvation. We bear fruit, including works because we have life of God inside us. We cannot be spiritually dead and try to look like Christian by doing good deeds. The Bible says that our works are like a old rugs.

We have to believe in Jesus the Son of the living God and His work and not trust in our own performance. When we accept Jesus’ work on the cross and His blood which was shed for us, making Him Lord over our life and believe in His resurrection, then we have chance to be a citizens of His kingdom. Then we start to bring forth the fruit without an effort. When I gave my life over to Jesus I started love even those who are not lovable. I wanted to embrace the entire globe. My joy was seen from a distance. I was full of happiness. I got peace that I never experienced before. It was secured beyond my understanding. That was a manifestation of my new spirit and my works followed. My works were what I was. I did not have to earn my salvation. I became the child of living God. My old life became meaningless.

When we are born of God, we do not have to be decorated as a Christmas tree any more. We are not pretending we are to be something we are not. We are not any more without life any more. We are new living creatures. Good works are then a result of our life and not our effort to get saved. Satan does not like what has happened to us. He tries to knock us down, ridicule us, humiliate us. But darkness never wins. That Light of God will swallow all darkness.

One may say, that a Christmas tree was ones alive. This shows us that many were alive but now are dead. But there is hope for them.

If you have not yet received life of God, please do it. The time is running short. He will forgive all your sin and will translate you to the love of His dear Son, Jesus. Do it now, and let me know about it.